Sizing up the Greensburg Central Catholic girls basketball team, there's one aspect Karns City coach Dave Kerschbaumer cannot overlook: its height.

The Centurions were the two-time defending WPIAL champion entering this season, but finished with a 17-8 record and the fifth seed out of District 7.

Still, Kerschbaumer knows the Gremlins will face a very dangerous team that went undefeated in Section 1-AA with a 12-0 mark at 6 p.m. Friday at Clarion University in the first round of the PIAA tournament.

"They have the size inside," said Kerschbaumer, referring to 6-foot-1 center Erica Keto, 5-11 guard-forward Laura McCauley and 5-10 guard-forward Megan DePrimo.

"It's like the Cranberry situation. Hopefully, we can outrebound them like we did against Cranberry and limit them to one shot," Kerschbaumer added.

The Gremlins won their third consecutive District 9 title with a 55-43 victory over the Berries Feb. 20.

GCC does boast a solid starting five and consistently receives key contributions from all of them.

Keto averages about 13.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game and DePrimo chips in about 13 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.

Throw in guards Lauren DePalma (9.0 ppg) and Emily Nowicki (7.5), as well as McCauley (7.0), and the Gremlins will have to account for everyone.

"They're pretty spread out," said Kerschbaumer. "Our scoring comes from our top two girls. I'm not sure how it will work out. I thought we did a good job against Cranberry. Our girls had opportunities and took advantage of it."

After sitting at 10-9 overall just over a month ago, the Gremlins (16-10) enter Friday as winners of six of their past seven games.

"We felt we've been close all year," said Kerschbaumer. "We lost some games early. It's not bad to lose a game, but you have to learn from it and put to use the things you've learned."

The Gremlins have been paced this year by senior guard Allyson Kepple (15.0 ppg) and 5-11 junior forward Ashley Campbell (14.0).

Rounding out the starting five are senior guard Kylee Rankin (5.3), senior forward Katie Weibel (3.0) and junior guard Hannah Beck (1.9).

Maureen McGreevy, a 5-10 sophomore forward, is a main component off the bench.

"We have one old film on (the Gremlins) and I got a chance to see them personally one night," said Centurions coach Rich Rosensteel, now in the second season of his second stint as head coach after coaching the program from 1979-93.

"(Kepple) is a good player and she can change the game very easily. She has the quickness, good ball-handing skills and passing," Rosensteel noted.

The Centurions will certainly enter the game battle-tested. They opened the season 1-4 after losses to Villa Maria Academy and Quad A Latrobe, Oakland Catholic and State College.

They also lost to WPIALQuad A champion Upper St. Clair, as well as Gateway, but did defeat Quad A Seneca Valley and Class AAA Belle Vernon.

"We got spanked pretty good this year by (Quad A schools)," said Rosensteel. "We're a real young team. ... We've been very fortunate, though, to have been in the state playoffs annually the past 20-some years."

Kerschbaumer doesn't see the Centurions as a team with eight losses, but one that will not back down from their perennially tough schedule.

"I really don't go by records," said Kerschbaumer. "Look at their schedule ... and we lost to Northern Cambria and Ford City. I'd rather take those losses then to beat a Class A team by 20 points."